Which place is cheaper, Kuala Lumpur or El Nido?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit El Nido or Kuala Lumpur?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit El Nido or Kuala Lumpur? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: El Nido or Kuala Lumpur?
El Nido
El Nido is a coastal destination on the Philippine island of Palawan. It consists of about 45 islands and islets all with beautiful beachfront scenery and plenty of opportunities for experiencing nature above and below the water. Some of the island's best features include limestone karst cliffs, coral reefs, lagoons, coves, and waterfalls.
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur, often referred to as KL, is the cosmopolitan capital of Malaysia. It is also the largest city in the country, having grown out of a small Chinese mining village. Today Kuala Lumpur is a microcosm of the country of Malaysia. The population is split between the Malay, Chinese, and Indian cultures which you can see reflected in the city's neighborhoods, cuisine, and entertainment. It's also an incredibly affordable city, even if you're looking for the comforts of a five star hotel or a luxury restaurant. Prices are almost always a fraction of what you would pay in Europe or the United States.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Philippines, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Philippines, The Best Tours for Seniors to Malaysia, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Malaysia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayEl Nido $40Kuala Lumpur $69
The average daily cost (per person) in El Nido is $40, while the average daily cost in Kuala Lumpur is $69. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for El Nido and Kuala Lumpur in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personEl Nido $14Kuala Lumpur $40
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomEl Nido $28Kuala Lumpur $80
Compare Hotels in El Nido and Kuala Lumpur
Looking for a hotel in El Nido or Kuala Lumpur? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: El Nido Hotel Prices and Kuala Lumpur Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.El Nido $19Kuala Lumpur $7.06
Hired Cars and Shuttles in El Nido
Also for El Nido, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Van Transfer : From El Nido to Puerto Princesa Palawan: $150
- Private Transfer from El Nido to Port Barton Palawan: $150
- Private Transfer From El Nido Lio Airport To El Nido Hotels: $20
- Lio Airport to/from Hotel Transfers: $37
- El Nido Town: Transfers to/from Nacpan Beach: $12
- El Nido Big Lagoon and Tropical Island Private Tour with Transfer: $179
- El Nido (Lio) Airport Transfers: $50
- EXPEDITION HAPPINESS PRIVATE TRANSFER: $201
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Kuala Lumpur
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Kuala Lumpur are as follows:
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Taxi Ride$3.46
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Metro Ride (for Two)$0.74
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Short Taxi Ride$3.46
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Taxi From Airport$21
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Bus from Airport$1.85
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Train & Boat to Pulau Ketam$2.77
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kuala Lumpur
Also for Kuala Lumpur, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- ~Chauffeur: Kuala Lumpur to Kuantan Transfer [MPV]: $268
- ~Chauffeur: KLIA Airport to Kuala Lumpur City Centre Transfer : $143
- i-City Shah Alam Theme Park Adventure with Return Transfer: $59
- VIP Transfer by Mercedes Benz : Airport to Kuala Lumpur Hotel: $75
- VIP Airport Transfer - Departure: $183
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer in Kuala Lumpur HTL-APT (KUL): $28
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer in Kuala Lumpur APT-HTL (KUL): $28
- Transfer To Avani Sepang Goldcoast Resort : $30
- Sunway Lagoon: Ticket with Transfer from Kuala Lumpur: $97
- Sunway Lagoon: Admission Ticket & 2-Way Transfer: $72
- Sunway Lagoon Theme Park with Round-Trip Transfer: $92
- Sunway Lagoon Theme Park 2-Way Transfer: $20
Is it cheaper to fly into El Nido or Kuala Lumpur?
Prices for flights to both Kuala Lumpur and El Nido change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayEl Nido $12Kuala Lumpur $16
Typical Food Prices in Kuala Lumpur
For Kuala Lumpur, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Dinner at Ding Tai Fung$9.24
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Roti Bread$0.23
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Food Court Lunch$3.33
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Dinner at Indian Restaurant (for Two)$4.96
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kuala Lumpur
For Kuala Lumpur, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Exclusive Night Market Food Tour in Kuala Lumpur: $19
- Private Night Tour Batu Caves and South Indian Dinner: $20
- ARAS Restaurant at KL Tower Buffet Dinner: $31
- Nightlife Street Food Tour with 6 Tastings: $36
- Malaysian Culture and Street Food Tour : $44
- Sambal Streets Kuala Lumpur Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $49
- Street Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $51
- Kuala Lumpur Malaysian Cultural Night Experience with Buffet Dinner : $53
- Cultural Night Tour with Dinner: $55
- From Kuala Selangor Fireflies Tour with Dinner: $59
- Kuala Lumpur Food Tour: $59
- Malaysia Cooking Classes With Local: $60
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.El Nido $5.46Kuala Lumpur $15
Tours and Activities in El Nido
For El Nido, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- El Nido Full Day Tour C with Buffet Lunch : $45
- All-Inclusive El Nido Island Hopping Private Tour: $153
- Private Island Hopping Tour A with BUFFET LUNCH: $134
- Private Island Hopping Tour C w/BUFFET LUNCH: $138
- Sharing/Joiner Island Hopping Tour A w/BUFFET LUNCH: $22
- Sharing/Joiner Island Hopping Tour B: $27
- Sharing/Joiner Island Hopping Tour C w/BUFFET LUNCH: $29
- El Nido Big Lagoon & Tropical Island Private Tour: $199
- El Nido Group Tour B - Cave Tour w/ Island Lunch: $48
- El Nido Island Hopping Tour ( Private & All-Inclusive ): $170
- El Nido Island Hopping Tour A: $28
- El Nido Island Hopping Tour C: Hidden Beaches & Shrine: $30
Typical Entertainment Prices in Kuala Lumpur
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Kuala Lumpur's activities, tours, and tickets:
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KL Tower Admission (for Two)$10
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Canopy Walk at FRIM Forest Reserve$1.15
Tours and Activities in Kuala Lumpur
For Kuala Lumpur, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Adventure Sports & Thrilling White-water Rafting in Kampar River: $254
- Half-day Kuala Lumpur City Tour: $19
- Kanching Waterfall Tour with Batu Caves Stopover: $52
- Kuala Lumpur (Genting Highlands 7.5 hours Private Tour): $58
- Kuala Lumpur Full Day City Tour Cruise Excursion from Port Klang: $65
- Kuala Lumpur Morning Food Experience Tour: $88
- Malacca Instagram Tour: Most Famous Spots (Private & All-Inclusive): $184
- Petronas Twin Tower Tickets with City Tour: $80
- *12 Hrs Kuala Lumpur Van Tour from Bentong w' Tour Guide: $95
- *12 Hrs Kuala Lumpur Van Tour from Port Dickson w' Tour Guide: $95
- *13 Hrs Bentong Van tour from Kuala Lumpur w' Tour Guide: $85
- *13 Hrs Kuala Lumpur & Melaka Van Tour from Bentong w' Tour Guide: $114
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayEl Nido $8.49Kuala Lumpur $6.84
Typical Alcohol Prices in Kuala Lumpur
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Kuala Lumpur are as follows:
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Bottle of Wine$10
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between El Nido and Kuala Lumpur, we can see that Kuala Lumpur is more expensive. And not only is El Nido much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to El Nido would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in El Nido and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Kuala Lumpur would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Kuala Lumpur than you might in El Nido.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is El Nido Expensive? and Is Kuala Lumpur Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, El Nido or Kuala Lumpur?
Kuala Lumpur has a larger population, and is about 190 times larger than the population of El Nido. When comparing the sizes of El Nido and Kuala Lumpur, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.